CNN contributor Montel Williams is facing backlash after comments made during a recent segment of CNN NewsNight, in which he referred to the alleged shooter of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk as a “love-torn child.”
Williams’ remarks came amid a broader discussion about the motivations behind the attack. The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, is accused of fatally shooting Kirk in what authorities are still investigating. While some critics have attributed political motives to the killing, Williams suggested the incident may have stemmed from emotional or personal turmoil.
“There are people who are trying to pigeonhole this as a leftist thing and a right thing,” Williams said during the segment. “And what we’re really talking about… we’re talking about a love-torn child, a kid.” He went on to suggest that Robinson may have been reacting to perceived disparagement of someone he loved, potentially a romantic partner.
WATCH: Montel Williams on CNN Thunderdome says the suspect in the Charlie Kirk assassination was “a love-torn child” likely in the throes of “his first real relationship and someone was disparaging the person he loved” and thus not “motivated politically”….
“There are people… pic.twitter.com/hSuDLIfriw
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 17, 2025
“This is probably his first real relationship,” Williams continued. “And somebody was disparaging the person that he loved. He sat on that building for 30 minutes before he took the shot. Why do you wait until the first word ‘trans’ came up? Then he took the shot. I think he could hear it.”
Williams emphasized that he did not believe the shooter was politically motivated, stating: “I think this was motivated emotionally… an emotionally stunted person who literally, when I say it this way, just hear me, tried to defend his significant other, not trying to defend some ideology.”
He also speculated that disapproval from the suspect’s father regarding the relationship may have played a role in the tragedy.
Williams’ comments were met with swift criticism from conservative commentators and media outlets, who accused him of attempting to justify or minimize the alleged shooter’s actions. The remarks come on the heels of controversy surrounding ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman, who previously issued an apology for describing love notes linked to the suspect as “touching.”
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and authorities have yet to publicly confirm a definitive motive.